Isabelle Tan · CLIENT: Isabelle Tan
Voice Print is a book about speech disfluencies, the interruptions and irregularities that occur when people speak. The book uses typographic scores, visual patterns that map speech over time, to show that fluency exists on a spectrum rather than as a simple division into two states. The scores are printed on translucent paper with strong show-through. Essays set in white on black, on glossy and opaque paper, give context and guide the reader. The book measures 9 by 12 inches, the same size as sheet music.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Voice Print is a book about disfluencies and the way we speak. It attempts to show the hidden complexities of fluent speech through typographic scores, showing that fluency exists on a spectrum rather than a simple binary. Alongside the scores are essays that provide context and guide the reader through the book. These essay spreads are white on black, and printed on glossy, opaque paper stock. It's design is intentionally rigid and mechanical, but still mimicking the fluidity of the scores.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 228.6mm x Depth 304.8mm x Height 15mm
- Tags
- typography, book design, experimental typography, graphic notation, editorial design
- Production Technology
- The book is 9x12 inches, same size as sheet music. Scores are printed on translucent paper with significant show-through, representing the fluidity of human speech. Essays are white on black and printed on glossy, opaque paper, to contrast the scores.
- Design Challenge
- The hardest part was translating something as fluid and emotional as speech into a strict visual system. Finding the right balance between structure and freedom required constant testing. Socially, it confronted cultural biases surrounding stuttering; technically, it involved designing a typographic method capable of capturing temporal and tonal variations. This process expanded the role of design as a tool for empathy and linguistic awareness.
- Project Duration
- This project started in January 2023 NYC, and completed in July 2025 NYC.
- Operation Flow
- Voice Print turns speech into visual scores. Each page transcribes how we talk, pauses, hesitations, and rhythm, into patterns on a grid, inspired by the musical score. By following a few design rules, speech becomes something you can see. It helps us recognize that stuttering and melismatic singing share structure, showing that our disfluencies are not flaws but part of how we express ourselves.
- Research
- This design research explores speech fluency through visual notation. The goal was to reveal the structure behind imperfect speech. Using recorded interviews, speech was transcribed into typographic scores that map sound over time. Participants included people with varying speech patterns. The results show visual and rhythmic similarities between stuttering and melisma, reframing disfluency as expression, not error, impacting how we perceive voice and identity.
- Inspiration
- What is fluency? Is it the lack of stutters? Does it signify perfection? How do we show the hidden complexity behind fluent speech? When we mention fluency, thoughts of speaking smoothly often come to mind. Disfluencies have been viewed as undesirable due to cultural perceptions. What if our pauses and irregular flow of speech arent seen as undesirable?
Press releases are available in 1 languages.